
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that more than 1,319 deaths have been recorded in the country’s ongoing diphtheria outbreak.
This was disclosed in the NCDC’s latest situation report from the National Diphtheria Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), published on Sunday via its official website.
Science Nigeria reports that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It typically affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose, where the bacteria produce a toxin that can lead to complications such as breathing difficulties, heart failure and nerve damage. Vaccination is the primary means of prevention, while early treatment with antitoxins and antibiotics is crucial for managing the disease.
The agency revealed that over 42,000 suspected cases have been reported across 37 states since 2022.
“The report, covering Epidemiological Week 10 of 2025, highlighted persistent challenges in tackling the disease, including low vaccination coverage, inadequate laboratory capacity and delayed case confirmation,” the NCDC stated.
According to the agency, Kano State accounts for 75 per cent of confirmed cases, with 18,108 out of 25,812. Other high-burden states include Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,408) and Katsina (1,501).
The NCDC noted that the case fatality rate (CFR) currently stands at 5.1 per cent, meaning one in every 20 confirmed cases results in death. The mortality rate is significantly higher in some states: Kaduna (25 per cent), Plateau (48 per cent), Lagos (83 per cent) and Adamawa (80 per cent).
In the latest reporting week, the agency recorded 23 new suspected cases—20 in Lagos and three in Katsina. However, none have been confirmed yet, with 56.5 per cent of cases still unclassified due to delays in laboratory confirmation.
In response, the Nigerian government has launched reactive vaccination campaigns in high-burden states and intensified community engagement efforts, working closely with traditional and religious leaders to boost immunisation uptake.
Public health experts warn that late diagnosis and poor access to treatment may be contributing to the high fatality rates.
Despite Nigeria’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the report revealed that only 4,981 (19.3 per cent) of confirmed cases were fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.
“The numbers indicate a critical gap in routine immunisation coverage, particularly in northern Nigeria,” said Dr. Solomon Chollom, a medical virologist.
He emphasised the need for urgent mass vaccination campaigns, particularly targeting children aged 1–14 years, who account for 62.9 per cent of confirmed cases.
Another alarming issue, according to Chollom, is Nigeria’s limited testing capacity.
“In 2024, all cases were confirmed based on clinical symptoms rather than laboratory testing, indicating shortages of reagents and PCR capacity for diphtheria diagnosis. This raises concerns about the actual burden of the disease. Without widespread testing, we could be underreporting or misdiagnosing cases,” he said.
The government has pledged to improve laboratory capacity and optimise protocols for PCR testing. However, implementation has been slow, raising concerns among public health experts.
“More needs to be done,” experts insist. “We need a nationwide diphtheria vaccination drive, improved disease surveillance and a steady supply of diagnostic materials.”
As Nigeria faces one of its worst diphtheria outbreaks in decades, health officials warn that without improved vaccination and surveillance efforts, the situation could deteriorate further.
The government has outlined the following next steps: increasing case management support and data harmonisation across affected states, improving laboratory diagnosis through PCR testing, expanding vaccination coverage to close immunity gaps – particularly among children – and strengthening public awareness campaigns through social media and community engagement.
For now, public health experts stress that preventive vaccination remains the best defence against the disease, urging parents to ensure their children receive routine immunisations.